How to Write an SEO Title Tag (Length and Examples)

The title tag is the clickable headline that shows for your page in Google's results. It is one of the most important on-page SEO elements, because it tells both Google and the searcher what the page is about, and it strongly influences whether people click. Here is how to write one well.

How long should a title tag be?

Aim for around 50 to 60 characters. Google displays roughly the first 600 pixels of a title, which usually works out to about 60 characters, and anything longer gets cut off with an ellipsis. Writing to around 55 characters keeps the whole title visible on most devices.

Shorter is fine when it reads well. The goal is a complete, compelling title, not hitting an exact length.

Put your keyword near the front

Include your main keyword, and place it toward the start of the title where you can. Front-loading the keyword helps in two ways: Google gives early words a little more weight, and the searcher sees the match immediately, which earns the click.

Write for the click, not just the crawler

A title that ranks but nobody clicks is wasted. Give people a reason to choose your result:

• Add a benefit or a promise, such as "with examples" or "a simple guide".
• Use numbers where they fit, like "7 ways" or "in 5 minutes".
• Keep it specific to the page, so it matches what the searcher wanted.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Duplicate titles across many pages. Each page needs its own.
• Keyword stuffing, such as "Shoes, Running Shoes, Buy Shoes Online". It reads as spam and wastes space.
• Vague titles like "Home" or "Welcome" that say nothing.
• Ignoring your brand. Adding your site name at the end can help, as long as there is room within the character limit.

Before and after

Weak: Blog Post About Email Marketing Tips For Beginners And More

Better: Email Marketing for Beginners: A Simple Starter Guide

The second version front-loads the keyword, stays under 60 characters, and reads like something worth clicking.

Generate and preview your tags

Once you have a title, it helps to see how it will look in search before you publish. Our free Meta Tag Generator builds your title, description and social tags with a live Google preview and a character counter that warns you when the title runs too long. To learn the companion skill, see our guide on how to write a meta description.

The takeaway

Keep your title tag near 55 characters, lead with the keyword, and write it to earn the click rather than just to please a crawler. It is a small line of text that decides both how you rank and how many people choose your result.